or the Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil

Leviathan (1651) examines the relationship of society and rulers and is widely held as a classic work on the nature of statecraft. English philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that man’s natural inclination to war could only be tamed by a strong, centralized government. In these blinks, you’ll learn why Hobbes felt a commonwealth of men under a strong monarch was the only solution to securing peace and security for all.

Sociologists, historians and political scientists or students of political science

People interested in how certain forms of government came to be

Students examining the origins of law and early government

English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was best known for his contributions to political thought. His writings, including Leviathan and De Cive (On the Citizen), are considered the cornerstones of Western political philosophy.

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